Woman, son die in Indiana flooding

GOSPORT, Ind. – A woman and her 5-year-old son drowned Saturday north of Bloomington after the car in which they were riding drove into floodwaters and became submerged.

The car’s driver survived.

The bodies of Jana Payton, 24, and Bronson Liggett, 5, both of Paragon, were found after a daylong search.

The three were heading home to Morgan County around 1:45 a.m. Saturday when the car headed into floodwaters, said Angela Goldman, public information officer for the state’s Department of Natural Resources.

When they realized they were up to their chests in water, they scrambled to the roof of the car. The vehicle was in White River floodwaters near Gosport.

Payton couldn’t swim, Goldman said. Her friend swam to shore to get help, but by the time help arrived, Payton and her son were gone.

Conservation officers in airboats were joined in the search by divers, rescue personnel and boats from Owen County Rescue.

Shortly after 4 p.m. the boy’s body was found in the water. Payton’s body was found a short time later.

Co-workers of Payton at Tomato Pie Pizza Joint in Paragon described her as fun-loving, outgoing and a good mother.